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Traveling to Kyoto on the Shinkansen – bullet train. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EudvffuuFkQ
Before we flew to Japan we got Rail Passes that allowed us to take any JR train anywhere in Japan for 7 days.
Our ryokan – Shiraume. It means “White Plum”.
View of Shiraume and plum trees
The Shirakawa river and the bridge to the entrance of Shiraume
Outside our ryokan was a plaque that included a picture of the street hundreds of years ago.
The ryokan owner – Tomoko. When we arrived our room was still being prepared. So we dropped our bags and headed out to see some sights.
Our first day in Kyoto
Hoofin it in Kyoto. On our way to the Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
A map of Fushimi Inari shrine
The Torii gates – Fushimi Inari Taisha
When one gate is not enough, make a hallway of them.
The messenger of the shrine – a fox with a rice grain in its mouth
This shrine has many little shrines along it’s course.
And more than a few stray cats.
At the top of the path there was a look out with a consession stand that sold ice cream and other refreshments.
A view from the top of Fushimi Inari
Kyoto down below. Kyoto is the old capital of feudal Japan for about a thousand years prior to 1860.
Another open shrine area at the top of the mountain. Someething about it remeinds me of a grave yard.
Then we found another trail that led us down the mountain.
And followed along with a smal stream.
The stream we were following spilled out into a metal snake head.
the water would fill the bucket at the bottom.
We stumbled across this shrine in Fushimi Inari and were captivated by its serene beauty. Tomoko told us if we make a wish, we can then try to lift the bucket. If the bucket is lighter than we think the wish will come true. If it’s heavier then….
This place was magical. No one else was here.
On our way back up.
Back at our room getting ready for dinner.
Kyoto at night. Out to dinner in the rain. Down a back alley loaded with restaurants and a few Geisha. Blade Runner much?
Our first old building that looks western. An turn of the century bank. Probably built not long after Japan opened up to the west. It made a great landmark for us.
Nobu, our dinner companion. He took us to a popular pancake place for some Japanese Soul Food.
